Seed-delivered, soil-amendment method and composition

ABSTRACT

A material for assisting in at least one of germination, protection, hydration, and thriving of seeds and the plants originating therefrom treats a seed with a tackifier or binder, such as corn syrup or the like, which secures a layer of hydrating polymer particles thereto. Nutrients, protectants, and the like may be absorbed in the polymer before or after coating of a seed thereby. Weighting materials, extenders, flowing agents, and the like may assist in the functioning or handling of the coated seeds.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application: is a divisional (continuation) of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/599, 735, filed Aug. 30, 2012 and due to issueJan. 13, 2015 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,931,209, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/531,042, filed Sep. 5,2011, and which is a continuation in part of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/913,662, filed Oct. 27, 2010, issued Jun. 4,2013 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,453,377, and which is a continuation in part ofco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/484,482, filed May 31,2012, issued Jun. 3, 2014 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,739,464, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/565,452, filed Sep.23, 2009, issued Jun. 12, 2012 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,196,346, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/099,852,filed Sep. 24, 2008, and which is a continuation in part of co-pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/789,177, filed May 27, 2010, issuedJan. 1, 2013 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,341,881, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/324,608, filed Nov. 26, 2008, issued Jun.1, 2010 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,070, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/012,912, filed Dec. 11, 2007,all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Additionally, this patent application hereby incorporates by referenceU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,877, filed Dec. 18, 2014 andU.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/918,277, filed Dec. 19, 2013.

BACKGROUND

1. the Field of the Invention

This invention relates to horticulture and, more particularly, to novelsystems and methods for amending soil beds by delivering materialsthereinto for improving hydration, germination, growth, pest resistance,and disease resistance of seeds and plants.

2. The Background Art

Different types of soils perform their functions differently. Inparticular, rocky soils, sandy soils and the like tend to pass water toofreely. Likewise clay soils tend to hold water, but yet not permit thewater to distribute therethroughout. Typically, organic soils havingsubstantial amounts of loam formed by organic matter such as leaves,other foliage, decaying plant matter, and the like provide betterabsorption and holding of water.

In general, soil may be improved on a small scale by addition of organicmatter such as peat moss. On a large scale, soils are typically improvedby growing and plowing under certain plants selected for their additionof organic matter. Likewise, waste materials from corrals, grain stalks(straw) and the like may be plowed into tracts of land in order toimprove their organic content and their capacity to hold water for useby plants.

Gelatin is a naturally occurring polymer. Gelatin binds with water toform a “gel.” The existence of naturally occurring polymers such asgelatin has been augmented by the development of synthetic polymers. Onesuch polymer is polyacrylamide. Polyacrylamide (PAM) and other similargels have been used for different types of binding processes. Forexample, a gel, when wet, may be easily formed, and when dry may becomesomething of a glue or binder. Likewise, gels typically are formed oflong polymers and thus are often durable in the face of erosive actionssuch as water running over them. Accordingly, gels such as PAM have beenused to treat surfaces of ground in order to minimize erosion by thepassing of water thereover.

Horticulture is the culture of plants. Plants rely on water as atransport mechanism in order to draw nutrients from the ground into theplants through the roots and into the stems, leaves, and so forth.Likewise, water acts as a transpiration cooling mechanism by evaporationout through the leaves and other foliage of a plant.

Thus, the health of plants depends upon access to water, nutrients,protective chemicals such as pesticides and protectants (pathogencides).Many parts of the United States, and even indoor plant locations such asmalls, homes, offices, and the like receive little or no rainfall.Irrigation or periodic watering by some mechanism is often required. Insuch situations, plants may dwell for an extended period withoutadditional water. Organic soils improve the water holding capacityaround such plants. Nevertheless, evaporation and periodic watering maystill combine to put stress on plants. Moreover, horticulture andagriculture on any large scale may have similar problems inhibitinggermination, growth, or thriving of seeds and plants.

It would be an advance in the art to provide a mechanism whereby toautomatically deliver and store within a soil, such as near a seed orplant root, a mechanism to absorb, carry, hold, and deliver water,nutrients (fertilizers), protectants (pathogencides), and other soilamendments. It would be an advance to release these materials in aregion of greatest utility and over time while resisting loss,evaporation, migration away, and the like. Other applications have needsas well.

Seeding, or sowing seed, may be done by hand or by machine. Typically,seed may be dropped from a drop spreader or actually placed undergrounda selected distance by a grain drill. Seed may be broadcast through theair to land on the surface of the ground.

Some seed has a comparatively larger granular size, some smaller. Someseed may have a comparatively greater density (mass per unit volume),specific weight (weight per unit volume), or specific gravity (densitycompared to that of water). Others may have comparatively lesser valuesof such. As one of such measurements goes, so go all the others, so theterm density will be used herein to represent the performance for allthe above.

Seeds of comparatively smaller sizes and lower densities tend to driftwith the air more easily, rather than passing through it. Likewise, suchare more likely to float or drift with water from rainfall orirrigation, for the same reason. The transfer of momentum from passingfluids (air, water) to the seed tends to drag the seed with the fluid.Thus, air and water can interfere with feed, flow, distribution,permanence, and settling into the soil. Smaller and lighter seeds willtend to clog in conduits, move poorly through the air when broadcast ordropped, float away with rain or other water sources, and not sink downinto moist or fully hydrated (muddy) soil readily.

Meanwhile, watering schedules, rain, sunshine, and other weather, withtheir consequent soil moisture, soil warmth, light, and air temperaturemay vary greatly over any period of days during a planting season.Likewise, soils and seeds may vary so dramatically, that any or all theforegoing conditions may produce very different results for varioustypes of seeds placed on or in varying soils.

It would be an advance in the art to provide a process or method ofdelivering soil amendments into soils, near seeds or roots to be mosteffective. It would be a further advance to use seeds themselves as adelivery vehicle, such as by temporarily coating a supply of seed tomake distribution more consistent, concentrated, and controlled overgreater distances and areas. Such amendments may improve settling intothe soil, resist carriage away with water or wind, improve germination,water retention, and growth, and even optionally resist disease (e.g.,by pathogens such as microbes, bacteria, viruses, etc.), pests, and thelike. Amendments that may separate from their delivery vehicle(substrate, particle, seed, etc.) may still release chemicalconstituents over time very near the carrier substrate (e.g., sand,seed) or its resulting root to be especially efficient and effective bysuch targeting.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, in accordance with the invention as embodiedand broadly described herein, a method and composition are shown foramending soil. In one embodiment of the composition, a granularsubstrate is coated with a binder, hydrating agent, and a nutrient orprotectant. One embodiment of the method in the present inventioninvolves coating a granular substrate with a binder and a powdered soilamendment, then distributing (e.g. sowing, planting) the coatedsubstrates (e.g. sand, seed). In certain embodiments, such as where apotted plant may have a transparent vessel or pot in which it is held,pigment may be added to the polymer, to the binder, or to the surface ofthe substrate by any suitable mechanism. Thus, the hydration maintenancematerial may be configured as a decorative or identifying element on itsown or for a potted plant, for example.

One organic substrate is seed itself. However, seed tends to bedistributed more sparsely than, for example, a conventional broadcast ortilled-in soil amendment. This permits very targeted amendments, atincreased concentration, yet more sparse distribution. In selectedembodiments of compositions, apparatus, and methods in accordance withthe invention, seed may be coated to add several functional features.For example, seed may serve as an organic substrate, coated to provide awater retaining polymer on a surface of the seed. Granules of ahydrophilic polymer may be secured to a seed by a tackifier or othersimilar binder.

Various protectants (e.g. biocides, pathogencides, pesticides,herbicides) hydration aids, nutrients, and combinations thereof may beadded as all or some of the powder bonded by a binder to a seed or othersubstrate. On the other hand, any protectant or nutrient that may bemixed or dissolved into the hydration aid may be distributed therewith.In certain embodiments, the material of the powder may, sooner or later,separate from attachment to the substrate (e.g., sand, seed, etc.) andslowly release (e.g., leach, dissolve, etc.) protectants, nutrients, orboth into the nearby soil in proximity to the seed or root needing thebenefit thereof.

For comparatively light seeds, having a relatively large projected areaexposed to passing fluids (e.g., air, water) a weighting agent may alsobe included in a coating on the surface of a seed. Materials may beextended by “fillers” or in other words “extenders.” Dry flow agents maybe applied to the surface of coated seeds to reduce or eliminate anytendency to adhere to one another. Also, a hydrophobic material in thecoating, applied after the principal coating, or dusted on thereafter myresist access to the seed by liquid water. This tends to resist fungus,while still permitting moisture in the form of water vapor to contactthe seed and promote germination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of the present invention will become more fullyapparent from the following description and appended claims, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are,therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described with additional specificity and detail through use ofthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a material including asubstrate provided with a binder securing a hydrating polymer thereto inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a process forformulating and producing a hydrating material in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of one installationof a hydrating material in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 implemented toservice a plant as a hydrating layer;

FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of an installation in accordancewith the invention having the material of FIG. 1 distributed throughouta region surrounding a root system of a plant;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a coating process forseed as a delivery vehicle for a soil amendment in accordance with theinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a processing plantand apparatus for adhering amendment materials to seed in accordancewith the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It will be readily understood that the components of the presentinvention, as generally described and illustrated in the drawingsherein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of differentconfigurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of theembodiments of the system and method of the present invention, asrepresented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention, as claimed, but is merely representative of variousembodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments of theinvention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, whereinlike parts are designated by like numerals throughout.

Referring to FIG. 1, a material 10 in accordance with the invention mayinclude a substrate 12 formed of a suitable material for placement inthe vicinity of a root system of a plant. For example, a substrate maybe a particle of sand. In certain embodiments, even gravel or rock in apotting environment may operate as a substrate. In some embodiments, asubstrate may be formed of organic or inorganic material. A substratemay be a fertilizer granule, seed, or other object placed or found in oron a bed of soil.

Sand as a substrate 12 is submersible in water and will not float asmany organic materials will when dry. Likewise, the sand as substrate 12is comminuted to such a small size that interstices between individualgrains of the sand substrate 12 provide ample space and minimum distancefor water to surround each of the substrate 12 particles.

On the other hand, material 10 is placed exactly where needed when seedis the substrate 12. Seeds need fertilizers and pesticides and othersupplements to grow, but excess amount of these supplements can bedetrimental to the environment. Using the seed as substrate allows forreduced use of these supplements. Moreover, the seed's size, shape,density, and other characteristics can be manipulated by coating theseed.

In the illustrated embodiment, a binder 14 may be distributed as acomparatively thin layer on the surface of the substrate 12. Typicalmaterials for binders may include both temporary and permanent binders14. Temporary binders may be sugar-based or other water solublematerials. For example, corn syrup, molasses, and the like may formtemporary binders. In the presence of water, such material mayultimately dissolve. Nevertheless, so long as the substrate 12 is notturned, mixed, or otherwise disturbed excessively, any other materialssupported by the binder 14 would not be expected to dislocate.

Otherwise, certain naturally or synthetically occurring polymers mayalso be used as a binder 14. Lignicite may be used as a binder 14.Lignicite is a byproduct of wood, and provides material havingcomparatively good adhesive properties, and substantial permanence as abinder 14 on a substrate 12.

Other polymers may be used to form a binder 14. For example, variousmaterials used as glues, including mucilage, gelatin, other watersoluble polymers, including, for example, Elmer's™ glue, and the likemay also operate as binders 14 to bind materials to a substrate 12.

In certain embodiments, the substrate 12 may be used in soils in outdoorenvironments. In other situations, the substrate 12 may be implementedin indoor pots and planters. In other embodiments, the substrate 12 maybe used as a filler material in planters or pots having transparent ortranslucent walls. In such embodiments, a pigment 16 may be added.Likewise, even if the substrate 12 and its contents bound thereto by thebinder 14 are not to be seen, they may be pigmented with an appropriatepigment 16 simply for the purpose of identification during selection,scale, or installation. Accordingly, a pigment 16 may be provided.

The pigment 16 may be implemented in any of several manners. Forexample, the substrate 12 may have pigment 16 applied prior to theapplication of the binder 14. In alternative embodiments, the pigment 16may actually be included in the binder 14, which becomes a pigmentedcoating on the substrate 12. In yet other embodiments, the pigments 16may be added to a hydration particle 18 either as a pigment 16 mixedtherein, or as a pigment 16 applied as a coating thereto. Thus thelocation of the pigment 16 in the Figures is schematic and may takealternative location or application method.

Particles 18 of a hydrophilic material may be bonded to the substrate 12by the binder 14. Particles may be sized to substantially coat orperiodically coat the substrate 12 with certain polymers 18, water mayserve as a binder by softening the polymer, rendering it sufficientlytacky to adhere to a substrate 12.

In certain embodiments, the hydrophilic material 18 may be a powderedpolymeric material 18 such as polyacrylamide. In other embodiments, theparticles 18 may actually be organic material having capillary action toreadily absorb and hold water. In one presently contemplated embodimentof an apparatus in accordance with the invention, the particles 18 maybe powdered polymeric material in a dehydrated state, and having acapacity to absorb water, typically many times the weight of aparticular particle 18.

The substrate 12, in certain embodiments, may be sand. The sand willtypically be cleaned and washed to remove dust and organic material thatmay inhibit the binder 14 from being effective. Likewise, the substrate12 may be sized of any suitable size. For example, sand particles mayrange from much less than a millimeter in effective diameter or distancethereacross to approximately two millimeters across. Very coarse sandsmay have even larger effective diameters. Likewise, in certainembodiments, gravel of various sizes may operate as a substrate 12.However in one presently contemplated embodiment, washed and dried sandsuch as is used in construction, such as in concrete, has been found tobe suitable. Fine sands such as masonry sands tend to be smaller, andalso can function suitably in accordance with the invention.

Accordingly, the distance across each particle 18 may be selected toprovide an effective coating (e.g. dusting) of powdered particles 18 onthe substrate 12. In one presently contemplated embodiment, theeffective diameter of the particles 18 may be from about a 30 mesh sizeto about a 100 mesh size. For example, a sieve system for classifyingparticles has various mesh sizes. A size of about 30 mesh, able to passthrough a 30 mesh sieve, (i.e., about 0.6 mm) has been found suitable.Likewise, powdering the particles 18 to a size sufficiently small topass through a 100 mesh (i.e., about 0.015 mm) sieve is alsosatisfactory. A mesh size of from about 50 mesh to about 75 mesh is anappropriate material to obtain excellent adhesion of particles 18 in thebinder 14, with a suitable size of the particles 18 to absorbsignificant liquid at the surface of the substrate 12.

As a practical matter, about half the volume of a container containing asubstrate 12 as particulate matter will be space, interstices betweenthe granules of the substrate 12. One advantage of using materials suchas sand as the substrate 12 is that a coating of the particles 18 mayprovide a substantial volume of water once the particles 18 are fullysaturated. By contrast, where the size of the particles 18 is too manyorders of magnitude smaller than the effective diameter or size of thesubstrate particles 12, less of the space between the substrateparticles 12 is effectively used for storing water. Thus, sand as asubstrate 12 coated by particles 18 of a hydrophilic material such as apolymer will provide substantial space between the substrate particles12 to hold water-laden particles 18.

The diameter of the particles 18, or the effective diameter thereof, istypically within about an order of magnitude (e.g., 10×) smaller thanthe effective diameter of the particles of the substrate 12. This orderof magnitude may be changed. For example, the order of magnitudedifference less than about 1 order of magnitude (i.e., 10×) may still beeffective. Similarly, an order of magnitude difference of 2 (i.e., 100×)may also function.

However, with particles 18 too much smaller than an order of magnitudesmaller than the effective diameter of the substrate 12, theinterstitial space may not be as effectively used. Likewise, with aneffective diameter of particles 18 near or larger than about 1 order ofmagnitude smaller than the size of the particles of the substrate 12,binding may be less effective and the particles 18 may interfere morewith the substrate itself as well as the flow of water through theinterstitial spaces needed in order to properly hydrate a material 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a process for formulating thematerial 10 may involve cleaning 22 the material of the substrate 12.Likewise, the material of the substrate 12 may be dried 24 to make itmore effective in receiving a binder 14. The material of the substrate12 may then be blended 26.

In one embodiment, a ribbon blender provides an effective mechanism toperform continuous blending as the binder 14 is added 28. Other types ofmixers, such as rotary mixers, and the like may be used. However, aribbon blender provides a blending 26 that is effective to distributebinder 14 as it is added 28.

For example, if an individual particle of the substrate 12 receives toomuch binder 14, and thus begins to agglomerate with other particles ofthe substrate 12, a ribbon binder will tend to separate the particles asa natural consequences of its shearing and drawing action duringblending 26.

As the binder 14 is added 28 to the mixture being blended 26, theindividual particles of the substrate 12 will be substantially evenlycoated. At this stage, the binder 14 may also be heated in order toreduce its viscosity and improve blending. Likewise, the material of thesubstrate 12 or the environment of the blending 26 may be heated inorder to improve the evenness of the distribution of the binder 14 onthe surfaces of the substrate 12 materials or particles 12.

Blending 26 of the binder 14 into the material of the substrate 12 iscomplete when coating is substantially even, and the texture of thematerial 10 has an ability to clump, yet is easily crumbled and brokeninto individual particles. At that point, addition 30 of the hydrophilicparticles 18 may be accomplished.

For example, adding 30 the particles 18 as a powder into the blending 26is a naturally stable process. Typically the particles 18 attach to thebinder 14 of the substrate 12 particles, thus removing from activitythat location. Accordingly, other particles 18 rather than agglomeratingwith their own type of material will continue to tumble in the blending26 until exposed to a suitable location of binder 14 of the substrate12. Thus, the adding 30 of the particles 18 or powder 18 of hydrophilicmaterial will tend to be a naturally stable process providing asubstantially even coating on all the particles of the substrate 12.

Just as marshmallows are dusted with corn starch, rendering them nolonger tacky with respect to one another, the material 10 formulated bythe process 20 are dusted with particles 18 and will pour freely.Accordingly, distribution 32 may be conducted in a variety of ways andmay include one or several processes. For example, distribution mayinclude marketing distribution from packaging after completion ofblending 26, shipping to distributors and retailers, and purchase andapplication by users.

An important part of distribution 32 is the deployment of the material10 around the roots of a plant. In one embodiment of an apparatus andmethod in accordance with the invention, the material 10 may be poured,as if it were simply sand 12 or other substrate 12 alone. Since thepowder 18 or particles 18 have substantially occupied the binder 14, thematerial 10 will not bind to itself, but will readily pour as theinitial substrate material 12 will.

Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment of an installation 34,distribution 32 may include pouring a layer of the material 10 near aplant. In the illustration of FIG. 3, the process 34 or installation 34may include a cavity 36 formed in the ground, or by a container such asa pot, planter, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the cavity36 may have a surrounding environment 37 such as the ground. A pottingmixture 38 or potting soil 38 may fill a portion of the cavity 36.

For example, one conventional mixture of horticulturists may include amixture of peat moss or compost along with other drainage materials. Forexample, gravel, sand, vermiculite, perlite, or the like may be mixedwith an organic material such as peat moss or compost in order toprovide drainage in addition to the moisture capacity of the organicmaterial.

The material 10 in accordance with the invention may be disposed in alayer 40 poured around a rootball 42 of a plant 44. Accordingly, thelayer 40 may provide to the rootball 42, or to individual roots asurrounding environment 40 having both ease of water transport ordrainage through the substrate 12 (e.g., sand, etc.) while also havingthe particles 18 of hydrophilic material to absorb and maintain waterwithin the interstitial spaces between the substrate 12 particles.

Thus, the layer 40 provides a reservoir within the cavity 36 of amaterial 10 engineered to maintain a high degree of hydration (e.g.,water in a gel) that will not drain into the environment 37, nor bereadily evaporated out. To this end, a top dressing 46 or a top layer 46may be laid down on top of the layer 40 in order to provide someprotection against evaporation from heat, sun, air, and the like. Thus,the top layer 46 may be formed of the same potting soil or othermaterial of the layer 38 below the plant 44 and the rootball 42. Varioussuitable top layers 46 exist and are known in the horticulture arts.

For example, mulches, wood chips, synthetic materials, plastic sealing,and the like may be used as a covering layer 46. Inhibiting heattransfer and excessive access to air and heat may assist in reducingevaporation from the layer 40 of the material 10.

Referring to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of an installation 34 mayinclude the cavity 36 and an environment 37 as discussed above. In theembodiment of FIG. 4, the rootball 42 may be surrounded by a distributedmixture 48 or fill 48 that includes the material 10 mixed into anotherpotting soil mixture. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, apotting soil mixture of any suitable combination of materials (e.g.,selections from vermiculite, perlite, sand, peat moss, compost, soil,gravel, or the like) may be mixed with the material 10 throughout. A toplayer 46 forming a suitable dressing to minimize evaporation from heator wind may still serve well.

The material 10 may typically include from about 1 percent to about 20percent of a hydrophilic material 18 or particles 18. The particles 18may be formed of a naturally occurring material, such as a cellulose,gelatin, organic material, or the like.

In one embodiment, a synthetic gel, such as polyacrylamide may be usedfor the particles 18, in a ratio of from about 1 to about 20 percentparticles 18 compared to the weight of the substrate 12. In experiments,a range of from about 5 to about 10 percent has been found to be themost effective for the amount of particles 18.

Sizes of particles 18 may range from about 20 mesh to smaller than 100mesh. Particles 18 of from about 50 to about 75 mesh have been foundmost effective.

The binder 14 may typically be in the range of from about in ¼ percentto about 3 percent of the weight of the substrate 12. A range of fromabout ¾ percent to about 1½ percent has been found to work best. Thatis, with a binder such as lignicite, ¼ of 1 percent has been found notto provide as reliable binding of particles 18 to the substrate 12.Meanwhile, a ratio of higher than about 3 percent by weight of binder 14to the amount of a substrate 12, such as sand, when using lignicite asthe binder 14, tends to provide too much agglomeration. The pouringability of the material 10 is inhibited as well as the blending 26, dueto agglomeration. Other binders also operate, including several smallermolecules that are water soluble. For example, glues, gelatins, sugars,molasses, and the like may be used as a binder 14.

One substantial advantage for the material 10 in accordance with thepresent invention is that the material remains flowable as a sand-likematerial 10 into the area of roots and under a rootball or around theindividual open roots of plants being transplanted. Thus, handling andapplication is simple, and the ability of granular material 10 to flowunder and around small interstices between roots or between pottingmaterials provides for a very effective application.

Certain experiments were conducted using the material 10 in accordancewith the present invention. For example, in one experiment various sizesof planting pots were used ranging in size from one quart to one gallon,two gallons, and five gallons. Various plants were tested includinggeraniums, hibiscus, and Indian hawthorn.

In one experiment, a five gallon potting container was half filled witha potting soil mixture of conventional type. Approximately one liter ofthe material 10 was added as a layer on top of the potting soil. Threegeraniums plants where then planted in the material 10. And theremainder of the pot was filled with a potting soil mixture.

The pot was placed where it could drain and was watered liberally withthe excess water running out of the drainage apertures in the pot. Foursuch pots were set up, each having three geranium plants. Fouradditional pots were set up without using material 10 in a layer 40around the roots of the plants. All plants were planted and all potswere prepared on the same day. The same amount of water was applied toeach of the pots.

After 10 days, the untreated plants lacking the material 10 in the extralayer 40 of the material 10 to hold the water appeared to be extremelystressed. In fact, the plants stressed sufficiently that after 15 daysthey appeared dead.

Plants potted in the layer 40 of the hydrated material 10 still appearedhealthy after 10 days and after 15 days. At 35 days after watering, theplants in the treated pots containing the layer 40 of hydrating material10 began to appear stressed. Upon watering, they responded well andreturned to full hydration and health. The plants in the untreated potsdid not recover.

Another test used hibiscus plants with four pots treated with the layer40 of a hydrating material 10 and four pots untreated. All pots were thesame size. The watering process was the same. Thus, as with the geraniumexperiment, all pots were watered equally.

After 15 days the hibiscus plants that had not been treated with theextra layer 40 of the hydrating material 10 appeared very stressed.After 20 days, the plants in the untreated plots were turning brown.

In contrast, hibiscus plants in the treated pots having an extra layer40 of hydrating material 10 appeared healthy after 15 days and even outto 22 days, when the hibiscus plants in the untreated plots were in thebrowning stages of dying.

After 38 days, the hibiscus plants in the treated pots began to showstress. Water was provided to plants at 38 days. The untreated pots werewatered the same as the treated pots. Plants in the untreated pots didnot respond. The plants in the treated pots responded well and continuedliving healthily upon the watering at 38 days.

In one experiment, an Indian hawthorn was planted in the ground. About aliter of the material 10 was laid about the roots in a layer 40 asdescribed hereinabove. In this instance, the experiment was conducted inan environment of natural ground. The Indian hawthorn plants were placedin holes approximately 18 inches across by about 15 inches deep. In eachinstance, the hole 36 prepared for the plant was partially filled with asoil and wetted. Two plants were placed in holes treated withapproximately 1 liter of the material 10, each. A control was created byplanting two additional Indian hawthorns using each step the same, inpreparation of the hole, placement of the soil in the hole, and wateringof the soil and the plants. In the control, none of the material 10 wasused.

No further water was applied. After 20 days, the untreated shrubsappeared to be dry with some stress. After 33 days, the plants in theuntreated holes were dead. Meanwhile, the treated shrubs remainedhealthy throughout.

In another experiment, the foregoing experiment was repeated using twoadditional Indian hawthorn plants and treating the soil with a layer 40containing about 1½ liters of the hydrating materials 10 near the roots.In that experiment, after 20 days, the shrubs appeared healthy. At 33days, the shrubs began to show a minimal amount of stress. At 40 days,the stressed plants were watered and responded well, returning to healthand continued life.

In all of the foregoing experiment series, the particles 18 were ofpolyacrylamide, and the substrate 12 was sand. The polyacrylamideconstituted approximately 5 percent by weight of the overall material10. The particle size 18 was approximately a 60 mesh granularity.

In an alternative embodiment, seeds may be pre-coated. Such seeds may beused with or without additional soil treatments or amendments. Seeds forany embodiment may include grass seed, agricultural seed, vegetableseed, fruit seed, flower seed, or plant seed. Embodiments using grassseed include, inter alia, rye, fescue, Bermuda, Kentucky bluegrass, andbentgrass seed.

Embodiments using agricultural seeds include, among others, cotton,wheat, soybeans, corn, rice, barley, sugar cane, maize, potatoes, sugarbeets, tomato, and milo. Embodiments using fruit or vegetable seedcomprise artichoke, beans, broccoli, brussels, cabbage, carrot,cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, melon, onion, pea, peanut,pepper, pumpkin, radish, spinach, and squash. Embodiments using flowerseed comprise annual, perennial, cosmo, poppy, zinnia, and wildflower.

In certain applications, with or without the material 10 describedhereinabove being placed in the soil, many of the foregoing benefits andothers accrue by using as an organic substrate 12 seeds 12 to be sown,germinated, and grown. For example, in an alternative embodiment of amaterial, apparatus, and method in accordance with the invention, seeds12 may be the substrate 12 be coated by the particles 18 and othermaterials to improve their germination, growth rate, and resistance tothe stress of infrequent or inconsistent watering. Multiple materialsare used to coat the seed substrate 12 to improve distribution,placement, and moisture control.

The water-retaining element may be a polymer, such as a syntheticpolymer. In one embodiment, the water retaining element by be a chemicalcomposition such as polyacrylamide (PAM) or polyacrylate. Herein, PAMwill be used by way of example for any and all polymers that may servethe function of water retention. Coating may be accomplished in acontinual (non-stop in time) flow process, a continuous (non-stop inspace) flow process, or by both.

In one embodiment of a composition, method, and apparatus in accordancewith the invention, seed 12 may be sown by a drill. Typically, a drilloperates by placing the seed 12 through a small chute, dropping the seed12 behind a small plow share forming a furrow. Discs or other implementsfollowing may often close the furrow over the seed 12. However, drillsare usually used for grains and row crops. Such seeds 12 are typicallyheavier than some other seeds 12, such as grass seed 12. Also, drillsplace seed 12 in rows, resulting in a non-random seed 12 pattern andconsequent plant pattern.

In other embodiments, seed 12 may be broadcast. Seed 12 may be droppedonto a rotating platen, provided with paddles, ribs, walls, or the likeextending from the surface of the platen to act as impellers. Theimpellers assure that seed 12 is flung radially away from the platen inrandom directions and distributions.

In certain embodiments of a composition, apparatus, and method inaccordance with the invention, a seed 12 coating process may create aslurry. The slurry may be composed of talc as a filler and flowingagent, sand as weight, water as a diluent and carrier, and a tackifier14 for bonding solids to the seed 12.

The slurry is mixed with the seed 12 in a quantity sufficient tomaintain flow in the mixer and to coat all the seed 12. This may be donein a stirring container with paddles or other agitators. In otherembodiments, an auger may mix and transport the seed 12 in the slurry.The result is seed 12 particles tacky with the tackifier 14 and bondedthereby to the sand and talc.

More talc and granulated polymer particles 18 (water retaining polymer)are added to the tacky seed 12. The result is polymer granules 18attached by the tackifier 14 to the seed 12. Talc, being much smaller,more like a dust or powder, coats much of the surface of the seed 12.The talc thus keeps the seed 12 more flowable and reduces the tendencyof seeds 12 to stick together. This step adds more weight, and alsohelps dry out any residual wetness of the seeds 12.

Example 1

In this example, perennial ryegrass was planted. A control planting orcontrol sample used normal or conventional seed, commercially availableand not treated in accordance with the invention. The other test groupscontained seed 12 coated by one embodiment of a process in accordancewith the invention. Coating ratios in the samples of coated seeds 12were in three groups. One group had a 1% ratio, another had a 2% ratio,and another had a 5% ratio.

The seeds 12 in the various samples were treated the same, with periodicwatering and consistent light. Photos were taken of the progress of theseeded plots of soil. Ryegrass has a very rapid germination. Thedifference in germination rate and time was not dramatic. Therefore noparticular note was made of that difference between samples in thisexample test.

However, In an evaluation made 11 days after planting, plants wereplucked up from each group, cleaned and compared. Stalk growth wasimproved in all the test samples over the control sample. The increasedheight exceeded that of the control by an amount of from about 40% toabout 70%. Although the increased growth was pronounced between thetreated and untreated samples, a statistical comparison to determine therelation of growth rate as a function of the coating ratio was not donein this test.

Root growth was likewise improved in all the test samples over thecontrol sample. In all of the treated samples, the length of root growthwas increased by an amount of from about 50% to about 100% over that ofthe control sample. Again, notwithstanding the pronounced increase ingrowth of the treated samples compared to the untreated samples, astatistical comparison to determine the relation of growth rate as afunction of the coating ratio was not done in this test. Likewise, inthis example a statistical analysis of germination rates and stalkdiameters and root numbers was not undertaken.

Example 2

In this observation, the samples were evaluated for their response tostress, induced by reduced watering. All the test samples show reducedstress, typically displayed as wilting and dehydration, compared to thestress of the untreated control sample. Moreover, not only did all thetest samples improve over the control, but the resistance to stressimproved with the increase in coating ratio as described in Example 1above.

Example 3

In this test, a commercially available grass seed 12 mix sold byPennington Seed was used. A control sample contained only the seed 12mix as provided from the supplier. A test sample was coated by a processin accordance with the invention. The plants were observed afterplanting for 11 days. The differences in emergence were noted, and thena stress test began. For 5 days, the plants were not watered. At 16 daysafter planting the plants from coated seeds 12 remained robust, healthy,and vertical, rising tall above the potting soil mix.

The plants originating from the seeds 12 of the control sample werewilted down completely to lie on the potting soil. This degree of stressindicates such a low water level in the plant that survival isquestionable, even with renewed watering. The test sample plantscontinued to thrive very well even without water for 5 days. The roots,reaped the benefit of the coating materials embedded in the soil aroundthe roots. The coating materials, notwithstanding the germination andgrowth of the seeds 12, continued to absorb, store, and release moistureas the roots of the plant use it.

Example 4

In this embodiment, grass seed 12 may be coated by a mixture ofmaterials. It may also be coated multiple times, each with a differentmaterial or combination of materials. Each addition of material changesthe properties of the seed 12 and provides a different benefit.

In this embodiment, several functions must be accomplished. Moreover,the substrate of seed 12 (an organic substrate) as opposed to sand(inorganic substrate) makes several additional requirements necessary.The addition of weighting agents results in the PAM or other polymerparticle 18 being better protected against dislodgement. Almost any seed12 can benefit from a coating in accordance with the invention. However,grass seed, being comparatively very light, having a smallthickness-to-width and small thickness to length aspect ratio, benefitsparticularly well.

In certain embodiments, ingredients included are grass seed 12 as thesubstrate, talc as a flowing agent and filler or extender, silica flourincluding one or more of calcium carbonate, clay, and powered iron toadd weight, and corn syrup or other biodegradable material as a bondingagent 14, binder 14, or tackifier 14. Also, a water-retaining polymerparticle 18 may be any suitable gelling agent in a granular form, suchas polyacrylate or polyacrylamide (PAM).

Ingredients may be mixed as discussed above. After all other coatingsare applied, the coated seed 12 may benefit from an additional step. Thecoated seed 12 may be mixed with fumed silica to render each seed 12resistant to water. It has been found that, over time, seeds 12 willgerminate even without exposure to liquid water. Germination occurs byreliance on water vapor. Thus, fumed silica does not interfere withgermination. Also, the fumed silica coating adds to the particulatediscretization of the seed, promoting flow when poured through machinerysuch as handling equipment, seeding implements, and so forth.Nevertheless, the fumed silica also protects against exposure to liquidsthat may cause disease or attacks by fungus. It also resists absorptionof liquid water by the seed 12 during storage, transport, or handling.

Ranges of ingredients in the coating processes discussed above may bemaintained within particular ranges in order to obtain the bestperformance from the seed 12. It has been found that the tackifier 14performs best when the slurry relies on a liquid mixture of 50%-80% byweight of corn syrup or other organic, water soluble, liquid,biodegradable material is mixed with 50%-20% water by weight. Thegreater the proportion of corn syrup in the mix, the stronger theholding power or contact strength.

A single ratio does not work best with all seed 12 types. Because of thediffering sizes, shapes, surface areas, densities, aspect ratios, and soforth of seeds 12, the tackifier 14 must serve as a complement to theproperties and needs of the seed 12 type.

Talc and the weighting material (e.g., sand) are added to the tackifier14 liquid, making it heavier and more viscous. The increase in viscosityof the tackifier 14 creates a thicker coating around each seed 12 givinggreater bonding contact, bonding strength, and shear protection to thepolymer particle 18 when it is added.

The water-absorbing polymer particle 18, precisely because of itsaggressive absorption of moisture, tends to draw itself into thecoating. This absorption speeds the apparent drying time, increasecontact area, and secures granules 18 of the polymer particle 18 to theseed 12. The amount of tackifier 14 compared to the seed 12 is typicallyfrom about 5% to about 20% by weight.

Talc acts as a flowing agent when added to the seed 12 at the end of thecoating process. This helps the seed 12 flow by separating one seed 12from other seeds 12. The amount of talc used may vary with the seed 12type. It has been found effective in some instances in amounts as low asabout ½% by weight (of total weight) and as high as about 20%.

Talc used in the slurry as an extender helps because super absorbentpolymer particles 18 are sensitive to moisture. Absorbing too muchmoisture can cause clumping or agglomeration of the particles 18 ofpolymer, the seeds 12 with respect to one another, or both. Thus, themoisture-to-polymer relationship is selected to be complementary.

Talc may be added to the supply of granules 18 or particles 18 of thepolymer itself in order to dilute the absorption of water from theslurry, and to enable the polymer particles 18 to be spread out on eachseed 12 and among the seeds 12. A ratio of from about 1:1 talc topolymer particle 18 to about 3:1 of talc to polymer particle 18 has beenfound effective.

Clay, sand, or the like may be used for weight. Many different materialscan be used to add weight to the final product. Runoff water can carryseed 12 away or redistribute it. This problem with re-distribution maybe reduced by increasing the final weight of each seed 12. Heavier seeds12 sink in water. Heavier seeds 12 sink into wetted soils. Heavier seeds12 fling further from broadcast spreaders. Heavier seeds 12 resistcarrying away by wind.

Weighting materials also act as a protective barrier for the polymergranules 18. Situated beside polymer particles 18, bonded to the seed 12by the tackifier 14, weighting materials tend to protect the position ofpolymer granules 18 in the corn syrup or other matrix. The foregoingcoating process may therefore typically add an amount of weightingmaterials amounting to from about 3% to about 25% of the total weight ofthe coated seed 12 product.

The polymer granules 18 of polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, or the like aresuperabsorbent. By superabsorbent is meant that they absorb multipletimes their own weight in water. Increases in the water absorbingcapability of a seed 12 results in many times more water near a seed 12.This greater holding ability of moisture offers a more consistent sourceof moisture to each seed, making it less susceptible to vagaries ofweather, drought, infrequent watering, or other lack of water. Inprocesses in accordance with the invention, a range of from about ¼% toabout 5% polymer by weight compared to seed 12 weight has been foundsuitable.

Timing appears to be very significant in some embodiments. If a coatedseed 12 product completes the process too quickly, seeds 12 tend toclump together, and yet seed 12 coverage tends to be incomplete. This isat least partly due to the contact itself between seeds 12.

If the coated seed 12 product completes the process to slowly, theprocessing itself tends to strip the coating from many of the seeds 12.Thus, in most embodiments of apparatus and methods in accordance withthe invention variable speed, quantity, and timing is provided for alloperational controls. Thus, this variable control is exercised over allfeeds, flows, speeds, times, and quantities in order to tune the processto the seed 12 and conditions at the time.

In some embodiments, each individual hopper of material of each type isplaced on a rail system. Thus each hopper or feed system delivers itsingredient at exactly the time specified.

In summary then, the process places seed 12 in a hopper, charge cart, orthe like, and then adds the tackifier 14, diluted according to the seed12 being coated. Weighting material, such as sand, clay, talc, or anycombination thereof adds to the mix. Then the polymer, also loaded withan extender such as talc, is added to the mix, coating all the sticky,tackifier 14-coated seeds 12.

Finally, yet another dusting of talc is added to absorb liquid,neutralize the tackiness of the tackifier 14, and otherwise terminatethe tendency of the seed 12 to clump together. Further drying may thentake place to dry the coated seed 12 to a desired degree to assurestorage without residual clumping.

Before or after such drying, the seed 12 may optionally be made waterproof or water resistant. This may be done by dusting or mixing the seed12 with fumed silica. This step is completely optional, and is not usedin many cases.

Before packaging, screening aids ultimate spreading by breaking up orremoving large clumps of seeds 12 stuck together. Packaging willtypically be in moisture-proof or highly moisture-resistant bags orother containers. Absorption of water can undo the controlled processesthat coated the seed 12. Distribution can then be done by virtually anymethod. It has been found that less seed 12 per square foot or per acreis required. Distribution is more reliable and survival is more assured.

Example 5

In selected tests, coated seeds 12, in accordance with the inventionshowed that soluble nutrients may be added to the coating. Tests showthat the hydrophilic polymers have ability to absorb, hold, and offer acontrolled release of water soluble nutrients. In some circumstances, solong as the polymer has been applied to the soil or seeds 12, such thatit is existing in the soil, it can also absorb and hold nutrients forlater delivery to nearby plants.

Polymers 18 may thereby be used as carriers of fungicides, herbicides,fertilizers, and even insecticides that are water soluble. Whether farmland, garden, or lawn, polymers in accordance with the invention may beprepared with one or more of these additives in the polymer beforecoating. The additive may be dissolved in the water used to dilute thetackifier 14. Thus, a nutrient, protectant, or other chemical load maybe designed and implemented into the coating directly or indirectlythrough the mix water in the tackifier 14.

Nutrients may include macronutrients, micronutrients, or both.Macronutrients typically include elements of, or compounds containingelements of, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium,sulfur, or a combination of two or more thereof. Nutrients can also bemicronutrients. Micronutrients may typically include elements of, orcompounds containing elements of, boron, chlorine, copper, iron,molybdenum, zinc, or a combination of two or more thereof.

Protectants may include various biocides or pathogenides. This mayinclude one or more algicides, antifouling agents, antimicrobials,attractants, biopesticides, chemical pesticides, disinfectants andsanitizers, fungicides, fumigants, herbicides, insecticides, miticides(also called acaricides), microbial pesticides, molluscicides,nematicides, ovicides, pheromones, repellents, rodenticides, defoliants,desiccants, insect growth regulators, and plant growth regulators.Protectants may include any composition having, as an active ingredient,2,4-D, Acephate, Acid Copper Chromate (ACC), Alkaline Copper Quaternary(ACQ), Arsenic or any arsenic containing compound, Bifenthrin,Bis-(N-cyclohexyldiazeniumdioxy)-copper (Cu-HDO), Boric Acid, Capsaicin,Chlorpyrifos, Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), Chromium or any chromiumcontaining compound, Copper or any copper containing compound, CopperAzole (CA), Creosote, Cyproconazole, d-Phenothrin, DEET, Deltamethrin,Diazinon, Dicamba, Fipronil, Glyphosate, Imidacloprid, Malathion,Methoprene, Micronized Copper Wood Preservatives, Naphthalene, Neem Oil,Paradichlorobenzene, Pentachlorophenol, Permethrin, Picaridin,Propiconazole, Resmethrin, Zinc Phosphide, or Zinc Sulfate.

A seed coating 18 carrying the polymer 18 or an augmented polymer 18loaded with nutritional or protection (e.g., insect, fungus, etc.)chemicals thereby absorbs and effectively captures the designedprotectant or nutrient composition needed. As the seed 12 coating issown with the seed 12 and eventually exposed to water, the chemicalcomposition is released in a controlled manner.

Moreover, it has been determined that the chemicals dissolved in thewater are held by the polymer in the coating, even after the coating hasbeen separated by watering the ground, the growth of the seed, growthemergence, and so forth. It still controls (reduces) nutrient andchemical leaching that would otherwise typically occur more rapidly, andreduces waste that would result from other application processes.

For example, cotton seed 12 is susceptible to fungi. It needs to bepre-treated with a variety of fungicides. It is also benefited bystarter fertilizers. However fertilizer materials must be water solubleto be available to the plant as it emerges from the seed 12 and from theground. Meanwhile, moisture, from the ground and ultimately fromirrigation, is required to germinate the seeds 12. The same moistureneeded for germination and growth may also tend to leach away thesoluble nutrients and protectants, like fungicides.

Therefore, a composition, apparatus and method in accordance with theinvention provide a coating, which itself can resist the leaching byholding the water in which such chemicals are dissolved. Moreover, thewater-absorbing (hydrophilic) polymer in the seed 12 coating tends tosoak up water, and with it the nutrients and fungicides from theirlocation on the seed, from their inclusion in the polymer, from theirapplication in the diluent water of the tackifier 14, or from theirapplication in the soil or irrigation water.

Thus, in addition to holding several times the weight of a seed 12, andcertainly many times the weight of the polymer 18 in the coating, thepolymer particles 18 or granules 18 slow the leaching process, renderingthe chemicals more effective for the seed 12.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, it has been found that valuable control fora process 50 of soil amendment is obtained by providing a processingplant 90 having continuously variable feed rates throughout to controlprocessing times or dwell times of materials in the various stages ofthe process 50. This may be accomplished by a combination of motorcontrols driving bin augers 94, 98, 100, conveyors 94, 96, 89, 100, 102,104 of various types, material applicators 105, mixers 104, and thelike. In this way, materials, mixing, and properties may be tuned toexactly the amounts desired and engineered to provide the performanceneeded for a particular seed type.

Less important are the actual sizes, feed rates, amounts, and so forththan the ability to tune the process 50 for any set of mixers 104,conveyors 94, 98, 100, 102, 104, hoppers 92, 96, dryers 110, seeds 12,coatings 61, and so forth. Each process 50 and plant 90, even eachdevice in such plant 90 and step in such process 50, needs to be capableof being calibrated for a particular seed type.

This implementation of calibration has been provided and operatedsuccessfully in a plant 90 operating in accordance with the foregoingprocesses 50 or methods 50. A wide range of parametric variation istherefore available in order to obtain the desired effect for anyparticular size, shape, weight, etc. of seed 12 processed in a seedcoating plant 90.

Likewise, timing can be adjusted by rates of flow, speeds of conveyorsand feeders, volumetric flow in cubic feet per minute of air dischargedby fans, heating rates, and so forth. Thus, even variations for localclimate may be considered and adjusted. Temperature, humidity, times,distances, and the like for a process may vary by climatic region. Thesemay be adjusted for local environments, such as for example the humidityof the Midwest or gulf coast compared to the aridity of deserts in themountain west of the United States.

Referring to FIG. 5, in one embodiment of a method 50 in accordance withthe invention, a tackifier 14 may be mixed in a process 70. The tackifermay be mixed with a weighting material 52, before, after, or duringdilution by a diluent 56, such as, for example, water 56. Weight 52 maybe clay powder 52 or particles 52, or possibly a suspension 52 alreadyhydrated.

Meanwhile, an extender 54, such as talc, may be added to increaseviscosity, add mass, further dilute the tackifer, reduce the amount ofseed required, or the like. Talc is a green-to-gray, soft mineral knownas hydrous magnesium silicate, Mg3(Si4O10)(OH)2.

A mixer 70 or mixing process 70 may combine any or all the foregoing.All are options, except usually the tackifier, as described in coatingprocesses hereinabove. Seed 12 may be added directly to a mixing process72 with the output of the mixing process 70, with or without additions.

The polymer particles 18, possibly cut (diluted) with a flow agent 58 asa powder such as talc, may be added at multiple times to the overallmix. The flow agent 58 is optional, and may also be selected as the samematerial as that used for the extender 54, for which talc has provensuitable. A mixer 74 or mixing process 74 combines the output of theprocess 72, the seed 12 with an initial stage of a coating 61,presenting a tacky surface. The particles 18 of hydrophilic polymer 18tends to embed in the tackifier 14. The flow agent 58, being a powder,having particles that are small, light, plate-like and very dry, tendsto stay on the surface of the tackifier 14. Thus it tends to neutralizethe tackifier, resisting agglomeration of the coated seeds 60.

A mixer 74 or mixing process 74 may be one or more processes 74.However, in certain embodiments, all the mixing processes 70, 72, 74,and 80 in the process 50 may simply be different stages or location in asingle, long, continuous mixing process. That is, it has been found thata rod mixer having long, bent fingers that are L-shaped rods extendingfrom a central, auger-like core, can mix and drive along the seed 12while being coated. The various materials 12, 14, 18, 52, 54, 56, 58,68, 66 may actually be delivered into the mixer 104 of the plant 90 atvarious stages therealong to implement the process 50. Ultimately themixing process 74 at the output of the mixer 110 delivers the coatedseed 60 for drying.

Drying may rely on an air flow 62 or air 62, a head flow 64 or heat 64,or both to remove any excess moisture, typically some of the water 56used as a diluent 56 for the tackifier 14. Some of the diluent hasalready been absorbed by the polymer granules 18. That moisture may staythere, but may be dried back out in some circumstances.

In some embodiments post options 66 may be added, such as fumed silica66, in order to enhance the properties of the coated seed 60. Forexample, fumed silica has been found to delay the incursion ofsurrounding water into seeds 12, and may be used for the purpose ofallowing seeding with the coated seed in wetter ground without danger ofrot or fungus. Other post options may be added as well or instead.

In some embodiments, composition options 68 may be added to the polymer18, either within the polymer 18 as it is formulated, or thereafter.Later additions may include coating with materials such as protectants76, nutrients 78, or both. Protectants may include one or more ofinsecticides, fungicides, or the like.

Likewise, just as optional extenders 54 may be added to the mixingprocess 70, protectants 76, nutrients 78, or both may be added to themixing process 80 or pre-options process 80 before seed 12 is coated.For example, the process 80 is completely optional, but has been founduseful. The existence of protectants 76, nutrients 78, or both, becomeseven more useful once the polymer 18 is coating the seed 12. The polymerparticles 18 tend to absorb and hold such materials 76, 78 in theabsorbed water picked up by the coated seed 60 from its environment. Thematerials 76, 78 are delivered to the roots originating from the seed,along with the absorbed water.

Referring to FIG. 6, in one embodiment of an apparatus in accordancewith the invention, a system 90 may include a hopper 92 or bin holdingseed 12. An auger 94 or other conveyor 94 carries and passes the seed 12to a feeding bin 96. An auger 98 or other conveyor 98 transports andpasses the contents from the feeding bin to an auger 100, whichdischarges to a belt conveyor 102 directed to feed into the mixer 104.In the illustrated embodiment, the auger conveyor 100 lifts thesubstrate seed 12 to the conveyor 102, which then 1 lifts the seed 12 toa mixer 104, which may also be configured as a rod mixer 104 or “rodauger” 104.

The mixer 104 may also be thought of as a series of mixers 104. It maybe implemented as several mixers 104, each dedicated to a single one ofthe mixing steps 70, 72, 74, 80 of the process 50. In the illustratedembodiment, the mixer 104 is implemented in a long tube into whichfeeders 105 introduce the materials 12, 14, 18, 52, 54, 56, 58, 66, 68,76, 78 in the proper order as illustrated in FIG. 5. From one to fivefeeders 105 will work, and the exact number may be dictated by theeffectiveness of the mixing and addition process steps 66, 70, 80, 72,74, 80 in combination with the materials to be used in each.

Following completion of all the mixing steps 70, 72, 74, 80, andoptional applications 66, 68 in order (or those selected, since almostall may be optional), the mixer 104 discharges the coated seed 60. Themixer may be from about 10 to about 50 feet long, and can usuallyprovide all mixing steps 70, 72, 74, 80 in from about 15 to about 40feet of length. One prototype was found to be completely controllableand effective with a distance of about 24 feet.

The coated seed 60 is discharged into an elevator 106 as a feeder intothe dryer 110, where the seed is exposed to flows of air 62 and heat 64.Drying removes liquids, typically water, and thereby hardens the coating61, and particularly the tackifier 14 in the coating 61 on the seed 12.An output elevator 108 acts as for continuous removal of the contents ofthe dryer 110 as the coated seed 60 comes to the end of the dryer 110.

The dryer 110 includes at least one plenum 112, 114 to feed hot air intothe dryer 110, thus drying out any undesirable amount of moisture thatmay remain in the coated seed. A series of conveyors 116 exposes thecoated seed 60 to a drying process 82 controlling flows of air 62 andheat 64 to effect drying 82 to the level specified and so controlled. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the conveyors 116 may be arranged in atower, each conveyor 116 receiving its charge from the conveyor 116above it, and discharging its contents to a conveyor 116 therebelow.

A total length of from about 100 to about 300 feet is contemplated, anda prototype plant 90 having a total length of 240 feet of conveyorsprovided adequate dwell times for drying. However, the amount of air 62and heat 64 is inversely proportional to the length of the dryingconveyors 116, and both may be engineered to optimize the dryer 110 anddrying process 82.

A sorter 118, such as a scalper 118 or the like receives the dischargeof the elevator 108, and sorts that output for oversized materialindicating clumped or agglomerated seeds. Debris and poorly attachedingredients may be blown away from the coated seeds 60. In certainembodiments, blowers may be used as sorters, relying on the balance offluid drag against the weight of gravity to distinguish sizes ofparticles and separate them.

Ultimately, a storage bin receives all the coated seed 60 for storageuntil it can be put into packaging 122 for distribution. The packaging122 may be moisture proof in order to avoid absorption of moisture bythe coated seed.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative,and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:
 1. A method of soil amendment, the method comprising:providing a substrate of a first material in discreet granules, separatefrom one another; coating each of the granules with a fluid operating asa binder; providing a soil amendment formed as a powder, dry andadherent to the substrate with the binder through adhesion binding;securing to at least a portion of the binder already on each of thegranules a quantity of the powder; distributing the granules dry andwith the powder adhered thereto and exposed to the surroundingenvironment in a soil bed; and releasing, by the binder, the soilamendment into the soil proximate the granules.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the granules are selected from sand, seeds, fertilizer,gravel, and a constituent of soils.
 3. The method of claim 2, whereindistributing further comprises delivering the granules into contact withthe soil by at least one of: drilling; broadcasting; mixing; furrowing;layering; and burying.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein releasing iseffected in response to hydration of the powder by water received fromthe soil bed.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the soil amendment is asecond material distinct from the first material and comprising apolymer.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising embedding at leastone of a protectant and a pathogencide in at least one of the binder andthe powder.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising embedding atleast one of a protectant and a pathogencide in the powder by dissolvingin a solvent absorbed by the polymer.
 8. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising comminuting the polymer to the powder after evaporating amajority of the solvent.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the solventis water.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the polymer comprisespolyacrylamide.
 11. A method for amending soil, the method comprising:providing a seed as a carrier; selecting an absorber formed as a powder,dry, hydrophilic, comminuted to powder, and distinct from the carrierand the soil; selecting a binder, as a fluid adhering the powderadhesively to the carrier; coating the seed with the binder; adhering,by the binder already coated on the seed, the powder to the seed,individually and separately; rendering the seed individuallynon-adhering by drying the binder; placing the seed in contact with thesoil individually; and separating, by the powder, from the seed into thesoil.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the seed is selected fromagricultural seed, flower seed, fruit seed, vegetable seed, and grassseed.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein distributing further comprisesdelivering the seed into contact with the soil by at least one of:drilling; broadcasting; mixing; furrowing; layering; and burying. 14.The method of claim 11, wherein releasing is effected in response tohydration of the powder by water received from the soil.
 15. The methodof claim 11, wherein absorber is an amendment modifying a characteristicof the soil;
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the absorber comprisesa polymer.
 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising embedding atleast one of a protectant and a pathogencide in at least one of thebinder and the powder.
 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:embedding at least one of a protectant and a pathogencide in the powderby dissolving it in a solvent and absorbing the resulting solution intothe absorber; and evaporating at least a portion of the solvent from theabsorber.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein: the solvent is water; theabsorber is a polymer comprising polyacrylamide.